Beginners and Beyond

Yak Trax ? (Read 375 times)

runmomto3boys

posted: 12/19/2012 at 11:01 PM

What conditions are ideal for wearing Yak Trax? Lots of snow cover, right? Tomorrow we are going to be getting 3-6" during my run. So do you think I should wear the Yax Trax for that run so I have better traction? I have spikes too, but I think you wear those more for icy conditions, right?

I haven't found them very useful on most winter days. I think in fresh 3-4 inches they might be useful. Any less, and you're scraping pavement. Any more, and you're sinking too much, and I probably skip the run until roads are plowed clear. I know I am prone to Achilles problems from running in snow, so it's something I avoid as much as possible.

I haven't found them very useful on most winter days. I think in fresh 3-4 inches they might be useful. Any less, and you're scraping pavement. Any more, and you're sinking too much, and I probably skip the run until roads are plowed clear. I know I am prone to Achilles problems from running in snow, so it's something I avoid as much as possible.

Great info. Thanks a bunch.

Nakedbabytoes

levitation specialist

posted: 12/19/2012 at 11:23 PM

Dunno girl, but I am about to find out! We are getting hammered right now and I run my usual 3 at 6am tomorrow and a double of 8 in the evening. Man, I really do NOT want to run both tomorrow evening if the morning sucks! Putting on my YakTrax and hoping for the best. Should be 6-8" of fresh powder the first run.

Of course I don't want an injury either, so if it sucks, I'll call it a day. Better to loose one day then loose a week, right?

Good luck! I'll let you know how it goes for me. I'm putting them on my Newton Terras. I have a pair of Solomon GoreTex trail shoes but I've had them for about 5 years and wear them all winter to walk around in, so even though they look nice, I worry about how worn in they probably are. I have a sensitive right ankle that likes to let me know when I've done something I don't usually do. I worry the Solomons might make it act up on me.

Dunno girl, but I am about to find out! We are getting hammered right now and I run my usual 3 at 6am tomorrow and a double of 8 in the evening. Man, I really do NOT want to run both tomorrow evening if the morning sucks! Putting on my YakTrax and hoping for the best. Should be 6-8" of fresh powder the first run.

Of course I don't want an injury either, so if it sucks, I'll call it a day. Better to loose one day then loose a week, right?

Good luck! I'll let you know how it goes for me. I'm putting them on my Newton Terras. I have a pair of Solomon GoreTex trail shoes but I've had them for about 5 years and wear them all winter to walk around in, so even though they look nice, I worry about how worn in they probably are. I have a sensitive right ankle that likes to let me know when I've done something I don't usually do. I worry the Solomons might make it act up on me.

Ohhh, don't forget to report back! I run later in the day, so you go first. Definitely don't wear those trail shoes w/that ankle - not worth the chance of a potential injury from crappy shoes. Let me know how annoying the Yak Trax feel on or if you don't notice them at all. I was wondering about that. Stay safe out there and good luck!

Nakedbabytoes

levitation specialist

posted: 12/19/2012 at 11:33 PM

Right! I'll let you know. It will either be interesting or fun...or both!

I run in snow quite a bit. If it's deeper powder or packed snow, I don't need any extra traction. If it's icy, I use screw shoes (regular runners with hex screws screwed into the soles). I've never tried the yak trax, though I see them a lot in the stores here.
Good luck tomorrow. Trial and error...

Yep, 3-6" is almost enough to snowshoe run in. And it helps pack the trail for later. Yea, studlike thinks usually work better on ice, and kahtoola microspikes are my weapon of choice on packed snow that they can dig into and get a grip. We don't have a base yet for microspikes to grab.

Yaktrax are probably ok on 3-6" of snow, but avoid them on ice. Take a look at those smooth coils and see if you see anything sharp enough to penetrate hard ice. They have another version now that's like the kahtoolas, but not sure what the model name is.

"So many people get stuck in the routine of life that their dreams waste away. This is about living the dream." - Cave Dog

Nevrgivup

posted: 12/20/2012 at 7:48 AMmodified: 12/20/2012 at 7:49 AM

I've tried the Yak Trax once and they kept falling off. I did not like them. I haven't tried screws. I've run with my regular running shoes in snow, but as others mentioned, I try to wait for some of it to melt. A few inches of packed snow isn't bad, its the ice to worry about. Personally, and you know this, I will use the TM until I know its going to be safe to run the roads. Where I live it doesn't leave me much room on the road anyway once the plows are done plowing. You have to be very careful not only for the traction of your feet, but for oncoming cars and visibility with snow banks.